Caramel Apple Nachos – a fun and healthy fall treat that your kids will love! Made with a naturally sweetened caramel sauce, these apple nachos are quick and easy to make and so much fun to eat!

Graphic for Post - caramel apple nachos - toddler and kid favorite, healthy, easy. Images of a kids hand holding a plate of healthy apple nachos for a snack.

Healthy Caramel Apple Nachos

These 🍏 apple nachos are literally the best thing ever made!

My girls and I couldn’t stop eating them.. they are that good😋!

The caramel sauce is a healthier version, made with no artificial sugar, and it tastes like fall in my dreams👍! The girls and I were eating it by the spoonful out of the jar.. and I have no shame in our game!

This plate of apple nachos went in minutes!

Caramel Apple Nacho Video

Watch this video to see how easy this healthy and fun snack is to make!

Reasons to Love these Apple Nachos

  • easy to make – ready to enjoy in 20 minutes
  • no added refined sugar
  • healthy and full of nutrients
  • so delicious!
  • vegan and dairy-free
  • gluten-free
Small kids hand reaching for an apple slice.

Ingredients

Caramel sauce

  • Dates: We use dates for a natural sweetener rather than using refined sugar.
  • Almond Butter: I like to use almond butter for a dairy-free snack. You can also use peanut butter or any seed butter.
  • Coconut oil: To help to blend the ingredients together.
  • Milk: I like to use almond milk, but any other plant-based milk will work well.
  • Seasonings: Vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt.

For the apple nachos

  • Apples: Use fresh and firm apples. Apples are a great source of fiber and vitamin C as well as containing no fat, cholesterol and very low sodium.
  • Chocolate chips: We used dark mini chocolate chips, but you could use vegan chocolate chips to keep this snack vegan and dairy-free.
  • Coconut oil: A little coconut oil helps to smooth the chocolate.

Fun Toppings

It’s really fun to customize these apple nachos with your favorite toppings. Try adding:

  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Sprinkles
  • Shredded Coconut
  • Crushed Cereal
  • Crushed Cookies
  • Chopped Dried or Freeze-Dried Fruit

Which Apples work Best

You can use your favorite apples for this recipe and use red or green varieties. It’s best to use ones that are fairly firm and not too watery. Granny Smith, Fuji and Honeycrisp all work well.

Blender full of healthy ingredients for caramel sauce.
Blender full of a heathy Carmel sauce for apple nachos.
Hand with a spoon dipping into a jar of Carmel sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To make the caramel sauce

  • Place dates into a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 10 minutes to soften up. Drain.
  • Place all of the ingredients, except for the almond milk, into a small blender, food processor or into a medium bowl and use an emersion blender. Since we are not making a large amount of sauce, a smaller type of blender works best.
  • Blend for 1-2 minutes, slowly pouring in the almond milk. Scraping down the sides of the blender if needed. Dates can be a little tough to blend all the way, but scraping down the sides and turning off the blender and stirring the sauce every 20 seconds or so helps.

To make the apple nachos

  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the coconut oil and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each time, until melted. Mine took 90 seconds for it to melt. Set aside.
  • Place the sliced apples in a circular direction on a plate.
  • Drizzle or pipe (with a baggie or piping bag) the caramel sauce on top of the apples.
  • Drizzle or pipe (with a baggie or piping bag) the melted chocolate sauce on top of the apples.
  • Sprinkle on whichever toppings you are using.
  • Serve and enjoy!
cutting board with apple slices on it.
Plate of apple slices.
apple slices with healthy caramel sauce swirled on top.
Plate of apple slices with a healthy caramel sauce and melted chocolate onto.
Plate with apple nachos with healthy caramel, melted chocolate and topping.

Tips on Making these Apple Nachos

  • Slicing: The best way to cut the apples is with an apple slicer. It’s super easy and quick. You can cut the apples by hand, just try to cut them into evenly sized slices.
  • Serving to Toddlers: If serving to children under 3, slice the apples a little thinner so that they are easier to eat.

Storing

The caramel sauce, once cooled can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. It’s best to serve the apple nachos as soon as you have made them so that they don’t start to brown. To slow the browning process, you can soak the apple slices in lemon juice and water for 5 minutes.

Kids hands holding the plate of healthy apple nachos for a snack or dessert.
Small kids hand reaching for an apple slice.

Get the recipe: Healthy Caramel Apple Nachos

No ratings yet
If you are looking for a fun and healthy fall treat that your kids will love, you have to try these caramel apple nachos! Made with a naturally sweetened caramel sauce, they are quick and easy to make and so fun to eat!
Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients 

Caramel Sauce

Caramel Apple Nachos

  • 2 apples, cored and sliced
  • 3 tbsp caramel sauce
  • 3 tbsp chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1 tsp coconut oil (optional)
  • 1/4 cup toppings of choice (optional)

Instructions 

Caramel Sauce

  • Place dates into a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 10 minutes to soften up. Drain.
  • Place all of the ingredients, except for the almond milk, into a small blender, food processor or into a medium bowl and use an emersion blender. Since we are not making a large amount of sauce, a smaller type of blender works best.
    Blender full of healthy ingredients for caramel sauce.
  • Blend for 1-2 minutes, slowly pouring in the almond milk. Scraping down the sides of the blender if needed. Dates can be a little tough to blend all the way, but scraping down the sides and turning off the blender and stirring the sauce every 20 seconds or so helps.
    Blender full of a heathy Carmel sauce for apple nachos.

Caramel Apple Nachos

  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the coconut oil and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each time, until melted. Mine took 90 seconds for it to melt. Set aside.
  • Place the sliced apples in a circular direction on a plate.
    Plate of apple slices.
  • Drizzle or pipe (with a baggie or piping bag) the caramel sauce on top of the apples.
    apple slices with healthy caramel sauce swirled on top.
  • Drizzle or pipe (with a baggie or piping bag) the melted chocolate sauce on top of the apples.
    Plate of apple slices with a healthy caramel sauce and melted chocolate onto.
  • Sprinkle on whichever toppings you are using.
    Plate with apple nachos with healthy caramel, melted chocolate and topping.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    Small kids hand reaching for an apple slice.

Notes

Age: 1 year and up. If serving to 1-3-year-olds, you can slice the apples thinner for easier eating. 
Storage: The caramel sauce, once cooled can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
Note on Apples: to help preserve the color of the apples, you can soak the apples in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of water in a medium bowl for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain before serving. 
Fun Toppings to Try:
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Sprinkles
  • Shredded Coconut
  • Crushed Cereal
  • Crushed Cookies
  • Chopped Dried or Freeze-Dried Fruit
Calories: 354kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 168mg, Potassium: 456mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 63IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 119mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @babyfoode on Instagram and hashtag it #babyfoode!

Rate Recipe Pin Recipe